Decoration structure



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1962 INVENTOR. DAVID R. HUMBLE ATTORNEY y1965 D. R. HUMBLE r 3,185,207

DECORATION STRUCTURE Filed July 2, 1962 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ILHUHVTIHLDAVID R. HUMBLE Wf z ATTORNEY May 25, 1965 D. R. HUMBLE DECORATIONSTRUCTURE Filed July 2, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. DAVID R. HUMBLEATTORN EY May 25, 1965 D. R. HUMBLE DECORATION STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Filed July 2, 1962 INVENTOR. DAVID R. HUMBLE Wm ATTORN E Y UnitedStates Patent 3,185,207 DECORATION STRUCTURE David R. Humble, 4241Erenan Ava, Dayton, ()hio Filed July 2, 1962, Ser. No. 266,866 3 Claims.(El. 16ll-332) This invention relates to decoration structure. Theinvention relates more particularly to wall covering structure orstructure for decoration of Walls. However, the invention is not solimited in that it may serve numerous other purposes.

It is an object of this invention to provide attractive low costdecoration structure.

It is another object of this invention to provide wall cover structurewhich may include comparatively low cost materials.

It is another object of this invention to provide support structurewhich is capable of retaining low cost cloth-like sheet material in amanner so that folds or pleats are formed therein.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, thecombination thereof, the method of manufacture, and the mode ofoperation, as will become more apparent 'from the following description.

The decoration structure of this invention includes attachment meanswhich firmly retain sheet material, such as cloth or the like so thatthere are a plurality of spacedapart pleats or folds in the material.Thus, drapes or the like are formed. The attachment means of theinvention are disposed at opposite edges of the sheet material and causethe sheet material to be taut. Therefore, low cost cloth-like sheetmaterial may be used to form drapes or the like. The sheet material mayconsist of relatively inexpensive material which does not naturally hangas a drape or the like in the conventional manner. Thus, material whichis not ordinarily considered as drapery material may be used.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of decoration structure of thisinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, drawn on a larger scale than FIGURE 1and with parts broken away, of decoration structure of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View, drawn on a larger scale, of anattachment member of the decoration structure of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the attachment member of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts broken away,showing attachment means of this invention secured to a wall andillustrating the manner in which covering material is attached to theattachement means.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, similar to FIGURE 5, butshowing additional covering material attached to the attachment means.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view, greatly enlarged, taken substantially online 7-7 of FIGURE 6. FIGURE 7 shows the manner in which coveringmaterial is attached to an upper attachment member.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view, similar to FIGURE 7, but showing themanner in which covering material is attached to a lower attachmentmember.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a modification of the attachment meansof this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in whichcovering material is attached to the attachment means of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional View, greatly enlarged, taken substantially online 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of another modification in theattachment means of this invention.

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FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner inwhich covering material is attached to the attachment means of FIGURE12.

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view, greatly enlarged, taken substantially online 1414 of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view showing another modification inattachment means of this invention.

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view showing a modification of the attachmentmeans of FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view showing another modification of theattachment means of FIGURES 15 and 16.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 3 and 4 show an attachmentmember 20, which, preferably, consists of a strip of rigid metallicmaterial or the like which is bent to form a proturberance 22 with lugs24 and 26. The lugs 24 and 26 are adapted to be attached to a wall 38 orthe like or other structure, as shown in FIGURE 5. The proturberance 22may extend at an angle from the wall 30, such as shown in FIGURES 4 and5, or the proturberance 22 may be substantially normal to the wall 30.

A plurality of attachment members 20 are adapted to be secured in end toend relationship, as shown in FIGURE 5. An aperture 32 in the lug 24, asshown in FIGURE 3, may be used for securing the lug 24 to the wall 30. Aplurality of apertures 34 are shown in the lug 26, any one of which maybe used for securing the lug 26 to the wall 3%. Preferably, a lug 26 ofone attachment member 20 overlaps a lug 24 of an adjacent attachmentmember 20, as shown in FIGURE 5. A suitable aperture 34 of the lug 26 isselected for alignment with the aperture 32 of the lug 24 to obtaindesired relative positioning of adjacent attachment members inconsideration of the contour, height, etc. of the Wall 353 and withrespect to other attachment members. Suitable pins or screws 38, or thelike extend through the apertures 32 and 34 and secure the attachmentmembers 20 to the wall 30.

As stated above and as shown in FIGURE 5, a series of attachment members20 are secured in end to end relationship along the upper portion of thewall 30. A series of attachment members 20 is also secured in end to endrelationship along the bottom portion of the wall 3% Usually, theattachment members 20 are positioned so that a protu-rberance 22 at thebottom portion of the wall 39 is positioned directly below aproturberance 22 which is at the upper portion of the wall 30.

Each of the attachment members 26 is provided with a plurality of hooks,points, or projections 40 which extend from the protuberance 22 and fromthe lugs 24 and 26, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. In order that eachattachment member 20 may be used at either the upper or the lowerportion of the wall 39, the hooks or points or projections 41 extendfrom both the upper and lower edges of the attachment member 24).However, only the points 40 at the upper edge of the attachment members20 are used on the attachment members 20 disposed at the upper portionof the wall 30 and only the points 49 at the lower edge of theattachment members 29 are used on the attachment members 20 disposed atthe lower portion of the wall 30.

Any suitable sheet material 44 is attached to the attachment members 20in the manner illustrated in FIG- URES 5, 6, 7, and 8. A ratherinexpensive material such as burlap has been found very satisfactory.However, other suitable materials may also be used. The upper edge ofthe sheet metal material 44 is lapped along the length thereof, as shownin FIGURE 5. The sheet material 44 is hung upon the points 40 as thepoints 40 are forced through both thicknesses of the lapped upper edgeof the material 44 at spaced longitudinal positions along the upper edgeof the material 44, as illustrated in FIGURES '5 and 6. The material 44is attached to each of the points or projections 43 which extetnd fromthe upper edge of the protuberance 22 and which extend from the upperedge of the lugs 24 and 26. The material 44 is thus attached along thelength thereof at the upper edge thereof to a plurality of positions oneach of the attachment members at the upper portion of the wall 30. 7

Then the material 44 is attached in a similar manner to the attachmentmembers 20 which are disposed at the lower portion of the wall 30. Thematerial 44 is provided with a short lap along the bottom edge thereofand the lapped portion is forced upon the points or projections 40 atthe lower edge of attachment members 20 to secure the lower edge of thematerial 44 to the attachment members 2%, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.The lower edge portion of the sheet material 44 is pulled downwardly asthe lower edge portion is attached to the attachment members 20 at thelower portion of the wall 30. Thus, the sheet material 44 is tautbetween the upper and lower attachment members 20, as shown in FIGURES land 2. The points or hooks 40 of the protuberances 22 and the points 4'9of the lugs 24 and 26 are so positioned that the edge of the sheet ofmaterial 44 firmly engages the upper and lower attachment members 20along the length thereof, as shown in FIGURES l, 2, and 6. The upper andlower edges of the sheet material 44 are thus forced to conform to theshape of the attachment members 20. Thus, each opposed pair of upper andlower protuberances 22 of. opposed attachment members 20 causes a welldefined fold or simulated pleat to be formed in the sheet material 44 asthe sheet material 44 is in slight tension between each opposed pair ofprotuberances 22. There is equal spacing between the well defined folds.Thus, the sheet material 44 serves to attractively cover the wall 30.

It is to be understood, however, that if the attachment members 20 aresecured to structure other than a wall, the decoration structure of thisinvention may serve as a room divider, or as wall or window decorationor the like.

As shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 5, and 6, the points, hooks, or projections 40extend through both portions of the lap at the upper and lower edges ofthe sheet material 44 and the points 40 are outwardly visible as theyextend from the upper and lower edges of the sheet material 44, as bestshown in FIGURES 1, 2, 5, and 6.

FIGURES 9, 10, and 11 show attachment members 50 which are adapted to bepositioned in opposed upper and lower positions in a manner similar tothat discussed with regard to attachment members 29. The attachmentmembers 50 are disposed in a series and support and secure the sheetmaterial 44 without the necessity of outwardly visible points orprojections. Each of the attachment members 50 as a protuberance 51disposed at any suitable angle with respect to attachment lugs 53. Eachof the attachment members 50 is provided with points, hooks, orprojections 52 which are pierced out from the body between the upper andlower edges of the attachment member 50. The points or projections 52are shown as being in two rows along the length of each attachmentmember. 50.

The attachment members 50 are secured in end to end relationship, asshown in FIGURE 10. Then the sheet material 44 is provided at the upperedge thereof with a short lap along the length thereof. The lappedportion of the sheet material 44 is hung upon the upper row of points 52as the lapped portion is pierced by the points 52. Thus, the sheetmaterial 44 is supported at closely spaced positions along the upperedge thereof. The points 52 extend only through the lapped portion ofthe sheet material 44 and the points are not outwardly visible, asillustrated in FIGURE 10.

j A lower series of attachment members 50 is also provided and attachedto any suitable structure. The lower edge of the sheet material 44 isattached to the lower attachment members 50 in a similar manner to thatof the upper edge thereof by securing the material 44 to the lower rowof points 52. A small lap is made along the lower edge of the sheetmaterial 44. The points or projections 52 are forced through only thelapped portion of the-sheet material 44 so that the points 52 are notoutwardly visible. Thus, the lower edge portion of the sheet material 44is engaged by the points 52 at closely spaced positions along the lengthof the sheet material 44. The sheet material 44 is thus drawn and madetaut between the upper and lower attachment members 56). The upper andlower edges of the sheet material 44 are thus forced to conform to theshape of the attachment members 54). Thus, the sheet material 44 isformed into folds which extend from the upper edge portion of the sheetmaterial 44 to the lower edge portion thereof.

FIGURES 12, 13, and 14 show another modification of the attachmentmembers of this invention. Each attachment member 60 has a protuberance62 formed at any desired angle intermediate connector lugs 64 and 66.Each attachment member 60 has at least one row of pierced out points orprojections or hooks 68 along the length thereof. Each attachment member60 has flange portions '70 at the upper and lower edges thereof adjacentthe points or projection 68.

A series or plurality of attachment members 60 are secured in end to endrelationship to suitable support structure at an upper position and aseries of attachment members 60 are secured in end to end relationshipto suitable support structure at a lower position. The sheet material 44is attached to the upper series of attachment members 60 as the sheetmaterial 44 is hung upon the upper point or projections 68. In attachingthe sheet material 44 to the points 68 a lap may not be necessary alongthe length of the sheet material '44. The points or projections 68 thusare visible as shown on the left part of FIGURE 13. However, after thematerial 44 is attached to the upper points 68, the upper flangeportions 70 are bent downwardly, as shown at the right part of FIGURE13, and as shown in FIGURE 14. The bent over flange portions 70 thuscover the projections or points 68 which extend through the material 44.Thus, none of the points or projections 68 are outwardly visible.

In a like manner the material 44 is secured to a lower positioned seriesof attachment members 60 as the material 44 is pierced by a lower row ofprojections or points 68. The lower flange portions 70 may thus be bentover in a similar manner to cover the projections 68.

FIGURE 15 shows an attachment member of this invention which consists ofa strip of rigid support material formed into a plurality ofprotuberances 82 which extend substantially at right angles from lugportions 84 and from intermediate portions 86. The attachment member 80is provided with a row of pierced out points or projections 88 forsecuring sheet material 44, not shown, thereto. The attachment member 80also has a plurality of apertures 90 for insertion of pins or screws(not shown) for connection of the attachment member 80 to suitablesupport structure. Attachment members 80 are positioned in opposedrelationship, as described above with respect to the other attachmentmembers, so that the sheet material 44 is attached along the lengththereof to opposed attachment members 80 and is taut therebetween. Thus,a plurality of folds are formed in the sheet material 44 from oneattachment member 80 to the opposed attachment member 80. 7

Due to the fact that the protuberances 82 extend substantially at rightangles from the lug portions 84 and from the intermediate portions 86,the folds formed between opposed attachment members 80 are substantiallynormal thereto.

If desired, the protuberances 82 may be bent angularly amaze? as shownin FIGURE 16, to form angularly extending folds between opposed pairs ofthe attachment members 89. Such bending of the protuberances 82 may beperformed before or after the sheet material 44 is attached thereto.

As shown in FIGURE 17, the protuberances 82 may be bent over aconsiderable amount so that the protuberances 82 are substantiallyparallel with the lugs 84 and the intermediate portions 86. Thus, pleatsor folds are formed in sheet material 44 (not shown) which is attachedto the attachment members 80 of FIGURE 17. Such pleats or folds are lesssalient than those formed by other attachment members of this invention.

Thus, it is understood that the decoration structure of this inventionprovides means by which a wall may be attractively covered atcomparative low cost or by which an attractive wall or decoration or thelike may be formed at comparatively low costs.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts,

. the combination thereof and mode of operation, which Having thusdescribed my invention, I claim:

1. Support structure for cloth-like sheet material, said structurecomprising,

a generally fiat strip of rigid material having at least twoprotuberances extending angularly outwardly from its surface between theends thereof, there being flat attachment portions of said strip betweensaid protuberances andadjacent the ends of said strip outwardly of saidprotuberances,

said flat portions being substantially co-planar with one another andeach being provided with apertures for attaching said strip to a supportsurface,

the strip being provided with a plurality of pointed, outward extendingprojections at spaced positions along the length thereof, there beingprojections on each said fiat portion, on the outermost end of eachprotuberance, and adjacent the angles formed between at least one sideof the protuberances and the adjacent flat portion,

the projections being adapted to support the sheet material along thelength of the strip as the protuberances cause a plurality of spacedfolds to be formed in the sheet material.

2. Support structure for cloth-like sheet material, said structurecomprising,

at spaced positions along the length thereof, there being projections oneach said flat portion, on the outermost end of each protuberance, andadjacent the angles formed between at least one side of theprotuberances and the adjacent flat portion,

the fiat portions of said strip at the ends thereof being structurecomprising,

a generally flat strip of rigid material having at least twoprotuberances extending angularly outwardly from its surface between theends thereof, there being flat attachment portions of said strip betweensaid protuberances and adjacent the ends of said strip outwardly of saidprotuberances,

said fiat portions being substantially co-planar with one another andeach being provided with apertures for attaching said strip to a supportsurface,

the strip being provided With a plurality of projectionsat spacedpositions along the length thereof, there being projections on each saidfiat portion, on the outermost end of each protuberance, and adjacentthe angles formed between at least one side of the protuberances and theadjacent fiat portion,

the flat portions of said strip at the ends thereof being shorter inlength than the intermediate flat portions,

the apertures in the flat portions at the ends of said strip beinglocated to coincide with the apertures in a second such strip when thetwo strips are positioned to maintain uniform spacing of theprotuberances,

the projections being adapted to support the sheet material along thelength of the strip as the protuberances cause a plurality of folds tobe formed in the sheet material and the flat portions of the strip causespacing in the sheet material between adjacent folds.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 631,401 8/99Kuhnel et al 160-348 1,324,950 12/ 19 Zrebiec 160-404 X 1,447,126 2/23Dwyer 160348 X 1,852,729 4/32. White 160-348 X 2,238,891 4/41 Cohen etal. 160348 2,242,355 5/41 Harris 160348 2,318,955 5/43 Milnor 160328 X2,524,326 10/ 50 Comerford et al 160-348 2,524,958 10/50 Calvani 160-3482,557,578 6/51 Stallone 160-348 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,185,207 May 25, 196

David R. Humble It is hereby certified that error appears in the abovenumbered patent reqliring correction and that the said Letters Patent.should read as correctedbelow.

Column 6, line 7, for "that" read than Signed and sealed this 26th dayof October 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Allcsting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR CLOTH-LIKE SHEET MATERIAL, SAID STRUCTURECOMPRISING, A GENERALLY FLAT STRIP OF RIGID MATERIAL HAVING AT LEAST TWOPROTUBERANCES EXTENDING ANGULARLY OUTWARDLY FROM ITS SURFACE BETWEEN THEENDS THEREOF, THERE BEING FLAT ATTACHMENT PORTIONS OF SAID STRIP BETWEENSAID PROTUBERANCES AND ADJACENT THE ENDS OF SAID STRIP OUTWARDLY OF SAIDPROTUBERANCES, SAID FLAT PORTIONS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CO-PLANAR WITH ONEANOTHER AND EACH BEING PROVIDED WITH APERTURES FOR ATTACHING SAID STRIPTO A SUPPORT SURFACE, THE STRIP BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OFPOINTED,